The inaugural edition of the Global Goals World Cup, Nigeria 2023, kicked off on Friday, December 15th, 2023 , at the Molade Okoya Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos State.
The women’s indoor football tournament, dedicated to showcasing athletic prowess and driving positive change on a global scale, features 20 teams representing a diverse range of entities, including the private and public sector, NGOs, civil societies, organizations, and religious bodies. The stakes are high, as the victorious team will proudly represent Nigeria at the 2023 Global Finals in Saudi Arabia from January 19th, 2024.
Mrs. Tolani Oshodi, the Permanent Secretary of the Office of Sustainable Development Goals and Investment, officially declared the tournament opened in representation of Dr. Oreoluwa Finnih-Awokoya, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Sustainable Development Goals and Investment.
The event also witnessed the presence of key figures, including Kayode Oluokun (Country Coordinator of the United Nations Global Goals World Cup), Monday Edet (Country Coordinator, Global Goals World Cup Nigeria), Mr. Oluwatoyin Gafaar Bolowotan (Director General of the Lagos State Sports Commission), and Ms. Amanda, a representative from the US Consulate.
In her address to the participating teams, Ms. Amanda, a representative from the US Consulate, emphasized that the tournament goes beyond merely involving women in sports. She stated, “the tournament is not just about women and sports, but it’s about women playing sports who are also doing it for sustainable development.”
Additionally, she expressed her best wishes to all players, hoping that the winning team aligns with a specific sustainable development goal that can be collectively achieved.
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She said, “so I just want to wish the best of luck to all the players, may the best team win and may your particular sustainable development goal that you are playing for be one of the ones that we are all able to achieve together.”
The two-day tournament, which is set to end on Saturday December 16th, promises intense competition and a celebration of sportsmanship.
The participating teams battled it out on the first day, delivering exciting results that set the stage for an exhilarating finals showdown.
Results of Games Played on Day one :
1. Team Wazobia (1 Point) vs Team Yagazie (3 Points)
2. Team Lagos State 1 (3 Points) vs Neca Ladies (1 Point)
3. Team Lagos SDG (1 Point) vs Team AWB (3 Points)
4. Team Safepad (1 Point) vs Team Trinity House (3 Points)
5. Team NSML Amazon (3 Points) vs Team WIV Royal (1 Point)
6. Team Works (1 Point) vs Team LOCCI (3 Points)
7. Team Monamipinks (1 Point) vs Team She United (3 Points)
8. Team Straitgate (1 Point) vs Team Lagos State Team 2 (1 Point)
The excitement continues on Saturday as the overall best two teams will go head-to-head in the finals.
The Global Goals World Cup Nigeria 2023 is not just about football; it’s a platform for women to unite, showcase their talents, and drive positive change on a global scale.
